Dolphin Therapy
Credit for this information goes to
Aqua Thought Foundation
Electroencephalographic Results of Human - Dolphin Interaction:
A Sonophoresis Model
David M. Cole,
Foundation Chairman
AquaThought Foundation
14610 Lake Olive Dr.
Ft. Myers, FL, 33919
941-437-2958
dc@aquathought.com
http://www.aquathought.com
Abstract: The Aqua Thought Foundation is a privately funded
research organization
dedicated to the exploration of human-dolphin interaction. Since
1989,
Aqua Thought has studied the neurological impact of close contact
with dolphins on
human subjects and the related therapeutic phenomena.
Aqua Thought's latest research seeks to establish covariant
factors between
various physiological changes which occur during human-dolphin
interaction, and
the amount of ambient echolocation energy present during the
interaction.
1. Dolphin-Human Interaction
Electroencephalographic Research
1.1
Introduction
Aqua Thought is currently conducting an expansive effort to
collect
electroencephalographic data from a diverse group of subjects
[1]. Methods of
data collection and analysis must be invented, where none exist.
Much of the
electroencephalographic testing takes place at Dolphin Discovery
in Cancun,
Mexico and at three of the four dolphin swim facilities licensed
to operate in
the United States [2] . Although the process involved in
conducting the
electroencephalographic testing varies, the following general
protocol is
followed:
I. Collect baseline data This takes
place at the swim facility, prior to any
interaction.
II. Place subject in direct contact
with dolphins This involves diving,
touching, free swimming, and playing.
III. Collect post-interaction data
This also takes place at the swim facility,
immediately following interaction.
Aqua Thought's current protocol maintains the subject's personal
information,
dominant hand & eye, instances of previous dolphin interaction,
a simple
psychological inventory - baseline and post-interaction, and
EEG, Blood Pressure,
Temperature - baseline and post-interaction.
1.2 Results
Several significant trends have emerged in the analysis of the
40+ subject
samples collected under the above protocol. The subject's
dominate brain
frequency drops significantly after the dolphin interaction.
Also observable is a
period of hemispheric synchronization (the brainwaves emitted
from both the left
and right hemispheres of the brain are in phase and of similar
frequency). In
many instances, the background EEG is normalized, or more evenly
distributed
within the spectrum.
Figure 1. Consolidated EEG Results.
The following chart contrasts the baseline measurement (samples
1-11) against the
post-interaction measurement (samples 12-23) for one subject:
Figure 2. Statistic EEG gross state measurement.
The following compressed spectral array charts reveal an almost
anesthesia
like response to dolphin interaction:
Figure 3. Compressed spectral array chart comparing dolphin
interaction
to anesthesia response.
1.3 Interpretation
In order to understand the early results of this research, it is
necessary to
look at how this neurological data might correlate with reported
therapeutic
benefits. The induced alpha brain state, as
psychoneuroimmunology dictates, may
be responsible for strengthening the human immune system. This
serves as the
current operating hypothesis for alternative cancer treatment
successes. But the
question of how dolphin interaction can have such a profound
therapeutic effect
is not answered in such simple terms. Many reported instances of
human benefit do
not fit neatly into the psychoneuroimmunology hypothesis.
Further study of the
neurological data may expose an entirely new process at work.
With the addition
of neuromapped EEG data, it is now possible to localize specific
anatomic
structures which are affected by dolphin contact. This anatomic
localization
provides an entirely new dimension in Aqua
Thought's research.
Recent studies, performed by the Florida Back Institute, detail
the endocrinology
of human-dolphin contact. It is becoming evident, through
findings such as these,
that the neurotransmitter production/uptake cycle may be
dramatically affected by
dolphin contact. It is not a great extrapolation to consider the
entire endocrine
system to be affected. This may well be a result of sono-chemical
[3] changes
that occur at cellular boundaries in living tissue.
II. Sonophoresis Model
Sonophoresis is the enhancement of the transport of permeants,
such as
hormones, through cell membranes as a result of cavitation [4].
Sonophoresis as
direct result of the dolphin's echolocation output, may explain
both the chemical
and electrical changes that have been observed in the brain.
Cavitation induced
sonophoresis may alter the membrane potential of the
postsynaptic terminal,
influencing the influx of sodium and calcium ions and/or efflux
of potassium
ions. Altered postsynaptic potential cycles would be observed on
scalp electrodes
as variations in EEG signals.
Figure 4. Cavitation may occur as a result of intense ultrasound
pressure waves produced by dolphins.
In order to establish the sonophoresis model as an explanation
for the observed
variations in human EEG after dolphin interaction, it is
necessary to examine the
intensity of dolphin echolocation.
Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins have been observed in captivity to
produce 231db as
referred to 1uPa/meter (1 micro pascal per meter) [5]. In order
to contrast this
value against medical ultrasound energy levels known to produce
sonophoresis [4],
the value must be converted to Watts per square centimeter.
231db referred to 1uPa/meter
231db = 20 log (p1 / p2) - to solve for pascals
where p1 = pascals
where p2 = reference unit 1uPa
231 / 20 = 11.55, 11.55 = log (p1 / p2), alog 11.55 = alog ( p1
/ p2)
p1 = 10 11.55 x p2, p2 = 1uPa = 1,000,000, p1 = 354813
p1 = 355kPa - kilo Pascals
I = p2 / r c - to solve for Watts per square centimeter
where I = intensity
where p = 355kPa
where r = density of medium
where c = velocity of wave propagation
I = 125892541180 / 1000 X 1505
I = 8.3 W/cm2
Thus, dolphins have been observed producing echolocation sound
intensities of
8.3W/cm2. To compare this with man-made sources of ultrasound,
such as diagnostic
and therapeutic transducer instruments, see the graph below:
Figure 5. Scale of Ultrasound Intensities.
Therapeutic ultrasound transducers have been used to produce
cavitation induced
sonophoresis at intensities of 2W/cm2 [4]. An evaluation of
intensities, alone,
would indicate that dolphin echolocation is powerful enough to
cavitate cell
membranes, resulting in sonophoresis.
In addition to intensity, field coupling plays an important roll
in delivering
enough ultrasound to induce cavitation. Therapeutic ultrasound
transducers are
held in direct contact with the skin, or other targeted areas of
the body.
Dolphin echolocation is coupled to the body through water, a
highly efficient
medium for sound transference (60 times more efficient than
air). As the dolphin
echolocation 8.3W/cm2 intensity was measured at the absorbing
element, energy
loss is not an issue, however, focal length is a consideration.
Within a
saltwater medium, a near 0 impedance coupling is formed between
dolphin and human
(at ultrasound frequencies). Focal length, rarefaction, and
interference do not
appear to be factors precluding sonophoresis from occurring
during human -
dolphin interaction.
Figure 6. Field coupling in Dolphin Echolocation and Therapeutic
Ultrasound.
Other experimental findings demonstrate that ultrasonic
cavitation can have
significant effects within the body, as seen below:
Erythrocytes form more agglutinates - blood clotting action
preceded by loss of
charge on cell wall caused by cavitation (70-240kPa) [6].
Acceleration of thrombolysis - disruption of adhering
platelets as a result of
cavitation (.5W/cm2) [7].
Cell lysis - cell wall disintegrates and cytoplasm spills
out as a result of
cavitation. Suggests prospect for ultrasound cancer therapy
(2.5W/cm2) [8].
Disruption of Leukemia L1210 cell membrane as a result of
cavitation [9].
It is possible that a model may be at hand to explain the
physiological evidence
being collected pursuant to the effect of close contact with
dolphins. The
AquaThought Foundation has expanded its research protocol to
record ambient
echolocation intensities during human - dolphin interaction. If
those data can be
shown to co-vary with a deflection from normal in EEG in a
consistent and
predictable way, proof of concept will have been established for
the sonophoresis
model. As indicated above, the potential clarification of the
therapeutic
modality in dolphin interaction extends far beyond altered EEG
patterns.
References and Footnotes
[1] AquaThought's current
electroencephalographic tests sample data from 16
points on the subject's scalp (Fp1, Fp2, F7, F8, F3, F4, T3, T4,
C3, C4, T5, T6,
P3, P4, O1, O2 of the International 10-20 System). The signal is
amplified,
filtered, and digitized at 1024 samples per second per channel.
The resultant
time domain data is transferred to a host computer and recorded
for later
analysis. Utilizing a fast Fourier transform, the data is
converted from time
domain into spectral domain so that frequency, amplitude, and
phase may be
determined for each sample point. Additional analysis normalizes
the baseline
measurements to yield differences from the post-interaction
measurements. Many
other statistical data analysis processes are applied to search
for trends in the
data.
[2] Dolphin Discovery, Playa
Langosta, Local #16, Cancun, Q.Roo, C.P. 77500,
Mexico, 011-52-988-30777. Dolphin Research Center, MM 59 1/5
Highway US 1,
Grassy Key, Florida 33050, (305) 289-0002. Dolphins Plus , 31
Corrine Place, Key
Largo, Florida 33037, (305) 451-1993. Theatre of the Sea, MM 84
1/5, Highway US
1, Islamorada, Florida 33036, (305) 664-2431.
[3] Sono-chemistry is the
interaction of sound with matter through the process of
cavitation. Chemists induce cavitation by generating intense
sound waves,
creating alternating regions of compression and expansion that
can form bubbles
100 microns in diameter. The bubbles implode violently in less
than a
microsecond, heating their contents to 5,500 degrees Celsius -
approximately the
temperature of the sun's surface. Suslick, Kennenth S, (1989),
The Chemical
Effects of Ultrasound. Scientific American, Feb 1989 v260 n2
p80(7).
It has been suggested that ultrasonic energy (such as dolphin
echolocation) may
cause neuronal migration and other cellular changes in living
tissue.
Salvensen, K. A, (1992), Routine Ultrasonography In Utero and
School Performance
At Age 8-9 Years. The Lancet, Jan 11, 1992 v339 n8785 p85(5).
[4] Mitragotri S; Edwards DA;
Blankschtein D; Langer R, (1995), A Mechanistic
study of ultrasonically-enhanced transdermal drug delivery. J
Pharm Sci, 84: 6,
1995 Jun, 697-706.
[5] Kenneth Marten, Kenneth Norris,
Patrick Moore (1988), Loud Impulse Sounds In
Odontocete Social Behavior. Animal Sonar, Plenum Press 567-579.
[6] Pohl EE; Rosenfeld EH; Pohl P;
Millner R, (1995), Effects of ultrasound on
agglutination and aggregation of human erythrocytes in vitro.
Ultrasound Med
Biol, 21: 5, 1995, 711-9.
[7] Tachibana K; Tachibana S,
(1995), Albumin microbubble echo-contrast material
as an enhancer for ultrasound accelerated thrombolysis.
Circulation, 92: 5, 1995
Sep 1, 1148-50.
[8] Jeffers RJ; Feng RQ; Fowlkes JB;
Hunt JW; Kessel D; Cain CA, (1995),
Dimethylformamide as an enhancer for cavitation-induced cell
lysis in vitro. J
Acoust Soc Amer, 97: 1, 1995 Jan, 669-76.
[9] Kessel D; Fowlkes JB; Cain CA,
(1994), Porphyrin-induced enhancement of
ultrasound cytotoxicity. Int J Radiat Biol, 66: 2, 1994 Aug,
221-8.
